Edwardsville pastor gives invocation in U.S. House

Published
12:00 am CST, Sunday, November 20, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. - With the future of this country always in his thoughts, a local minister shared his prayers with legislators when he gave the invocation to start last Thursday's session in the U.S. House of Representatives.

At the invitation of U.S. Rep. John Shimkus, R-Collinsville, the Rev. Martin Springer, senior pastor at Trinity Lutheran Ministries of Edwardsville, said a prayer on the floor of the House precisely at noon.

"It was a once-in-the-lifetime experience," Springer said. "I stood at the same podium that the president stands at to deliver the State of the Union Address."

The minister said his thoughts filled with the presence of all the great men who had stood in that very same spot.

"Pastor Springer has been a model of service for his church, his community and his nation," U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, R-Champaign, said in his introduction. "It is my honor and privilege to join my colleagues in welcoming him as our guest chaplain."

Springer said he was most deeply impressed to be standing in front of the large flag of the United States and to have Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, seated behind him.

"I get goose bumps just thinking about it," he said. "This has been an unbelievable honor."

"Help us to be mindful of the principles on which (our country) was founded: freedom and equality, justice and humanity," Springer prayed. "Grant your blessings to the members of the House. May they serve our nation with honesty and integrity, and may they seek your guidance as they make important decisions that affect us all."

Springer said everyone he met treated him as if he were a "visiting dignitary."

Shimkus was unable to be present for Springer's invocation but arranged for Johnson to welcome him to Congress. Johnson introduced him to the House and then personally to the speaker of the House.

"Representative Johnson is also a fellow Lutheran," Springer said. "He hosted me and took me to dinner last night."

The minister's relationship with Shimkus developed initially through their wives, who had attended college together. Their friendship prompted Springer to invite Shimkus to speak at two events held at his church in honor of World War II veterans during this past year.

Last summer, Springer and his wife, Janice, visited the nation's capital, and the couple was stunned when Shimkus offered to give them a personal tour.

Springer came to the ministry as a second career, first serving in the U.S. Air Force. During his tenure, he worked in the Office of Presidential Protocol at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington, D.C., during the administration of President Ronald Reagan.

Leaving active duty in 1986, Springer entered the U.S. Air Force Reserve, serving in the Air Force Office of Special Investigations until 1998. During Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, Springer was recalled to active-duty service and received the Air Force Achievement Medal for his service.

Sensitive to the military's role, Springer included them in his invocation prayer.

"Protect all who serve in the Armed Forces of the United States. Bless their families during times of military deployments and give your peace to the families of those who have paid the ultimate price in the defense of liberty," he said. "Protect our nation from terrorist threat."

When he decided to enter the ministry, Springer enrolled at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, and he was ordained in 2000.

In his fourth year at Trinity Lutheran, Springer oversees the church, its Christian day school and a day care center.

Following his invocation, Springer said he was surprised by how many texts and messages he received once he turned on his cellphone.

"So many people said they had seen me on C-SPAN," Springer laughed. "I just can't tell you how exciting it all was."